French Marigold Info and Care: Guide

French Marigold Info and Care: The Ultimate Guide

French Marigold is a colorful and beautiful flower that can be grown in your garden or in pots and baskets. This flower is known for its vibrant colors, its heat tolerance, and its long blooming season. 

The best thing about this flower is that it is easy to grow. For more information about this plant, continue reading!

French Marigold is a species of flowering plant and it is native to Guatemala and Mexico. It can be found in many parts of the world. This plant is popular because of its long blooming season and its heat tolerance. 

The best thing about this plant is that it is easy to grow. Here are the most important facts to know about this popular flower if you are thinking of growing your own French Marigold.

French Marigold Info and Care

Caring For Your Plant: 

Basic French Marigold Info

French Marigold (Tagetes patula) is a hardy annual and tender perennial plant. It grows up to 30 inches tall and has bright orange and yellow flowers. The leaves are lance-shaped and are grayish-green in color. The stem is coarse and mostly hairless. The flowers are large and are either single or double in color. You can grow this plant from seeds or from the plants that you purchase at a nursery.

There are different varieties of French marigold, following are some of the types of this plant:

  • Alumia vanilla cream
  • Aurora orange
  • Bolero
  • Bonanza deep orange
  • Bonita mixed

Lighting Requirements For French Marigold:

Plant growth and flowering depend on available sunlight and thus, you should ensure that French marigold receives sufficient sunlight. When you are growing it in the garden, it should be planted in a place that receives partial sun or full sun. 

If you are growing it indoors, place it in a location that receives bright but indirect sunlight. It also grows in low light conditions but in that case, it will not flower much. 

Watering Requirements:

Water your French marigold pet plants deeply, but allow the soil to dry out between watering. These plants can survive if they do not get enough water but over-watering is the most common cause of plant death. 

Soil Requirements:

The French marigold grows well in most types of soils except for the ones that contain a lot of clay and more than 20% of sand. The soil of the raised beds should be rich in nutrients and well-drained. So, the soil should be fertile, well-draining, and should have a pH from 6.0-7.0.

Temperature Requirements:

It is a warm climate plant and can grow in warm and moderately warm areas. The temperature needed for its growth ranges from 70 degrees F to 75 degrees F. It cannot tolerate the cold environment and thus it is best to keep it out of the cold place. It thrives best in warmer and hot areas.

Flowering Period:

French marigolds can be found in the rainy season, winter and summer. They begin to flower after five to six weeks of germination. They also flower profusely and bloom for six weeks. 

Requirements for pruning:

The pruning of French marigolds is not done frequently. You can prune it monthly during the summer season. However, you have to remove the spent blooms to promote new growth. You can prune it potentially to get a bushier and fuller plant. Pruning can maintain its shape and also helps to keep it healthy. Also, it is required to get more flowers.

Propagating:

This plant can be propagated by seeds easily. You need to sow the seeds of French Marigold in the ground. Most marigolds grow for one season, but some are perennial plants. Marigolds don’t actually come back year after year, but they do self-seed so they may appear to.l plant. 

It grows best when you sow its seeds in the springtime in either moist soil or sandy soil. This plant takes 7 to 14 days to germinate and once the seeds sprout, keep them moist and warm. 

Prepare for Winters:

French Marigold Flowers

Make sure you prepare your French marigold plants for winter. For this, slowly cut back the tops of the plants after the first frost has set in. You should make sure that you don’t cut too much or too close to the ground. This can be very painful for your plants. Once the leaves and stems turn yellow, it is a sign of a dying plant. So, you can cut them to the ground.

In regions where winters are harsh and very cold, you should prepare your plants so that they don’t get damaged by cold winds. You may mulch them at the base and cover the plants with leaves so that they are protected from damage by the cold winds during winters.

Common Pests and Diseases:

There are several common pests that attack French marigold plants. Aphids, mealybugs, leafhoppers, and whiteflies are some of the common pests. Fungal diseases like powdery mildew and rust may also attack the plant. 

You can keep them off by hosing the plant with water or mixing insecticidal soap or neem oil in water. You can also spray your plant with a dormant oil spray to keep off the pests. For more serious infestations, you can contact your local garden center or a pest control company.

Final Thoughts

French marigold is a beautiful plant that is used for its beautiful flowers. It can be used as a house plant or as a potted plant. The flowers of this plant have an attractive fragrance and are used to make different types of fragrances. It is a very easy plant to grow and can be used in many ways.

We hope that this article will help you to grow a healthy French marigold plant. You should follow all the instructions given above to achieve your goal. If you have any questions about this plant, then you can ask us in the comments section below. We will try to help you out.

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How Long Do French Marigolds Last?

A French marigold flower, potted in a container, will last a minimum of two months. However, in a garden setting, they can last twice as long. If all the leaves are removed when the plant starts to die back and the plant is given a good watering, they can last up to a year. Overall, it has a lifespan of less than a year.

Can I Eat French Marigolds?

These flowers technically have edible parts, but you’d better leave them in the garden where they are. These are known for their pungent scent and bitter taste. They are ornamental flowers and should be enjoyed for their beauty. They are not poisonous and do not have any medicinal properties.

Difference Between Marigold And French Marigold?

On the whole, there is not much difference between a marigold and a French marigold. Both are grown for their ornamental qualities. However, they are slightly different in color. Marigolds are bright yellow, whereas French marigolds are orange in color. Marigolds have long petals, whereas French marigolds have shorter petals. Marigolds are generally available all year round, whereas French marigolds are available only during the summer months.

Does French Marigold Come Back Every Year?

French marigold is a perennial flower in Zones 8-10 and usually comes back each year but they are usually grown as annuals. The flowers remain even until the first fall frost, but the leaves will eventually die back completely. They do self-seed so it gives the appearance of a perennial.

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